Jeanne’ Goldy-Sanitate, Gamma Gamma
By Kirsten Heck, Gamma Pi, Staff Writer
Jeanne’ Goldy-Sanitate is a race-winning cross-country skier. She plays softball and golf, and recently competed in a charity cycling event. Jeanne’ is also a disabled veteran who spends much of her time in a wheelchair, and truly embodies our open motto, “Active, Self-reliant, Trustworthy.”
Jeanne’ joined the Air Force in 1976 as a medic, specifically in optometry. While stationed in the United Kingdom, she joined the base tennis team and was ranked third among the Air Force in the UK. An avid athlete, she played softball on several teams during her service until an accident during a routine training exercise in January 1984 left her with a broken back. Doctors predicted she’d never walk again; six months later, she not only walked but paced her running partner on her bicycle.
After her discharge in 1984, Jeanne’ returned to New Jersey, and took a job in corrections educating juvenile offenders, but found she missed her work in optometry. With the encouragement of a former Air Force colleague, Jeanne’ packed up her belongings and moved to Birmingham to attend the UAB School of Optometry. At 29 years young, Jeanne became an initiated member of the Gamma Gamma chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau. “It was something I wanted to do as I missed the camaraderie I had in the service,” Jeanne’ says.
To continue her studies, Jeanne’ returned to New Jersey, and worked part time at a For Eyes store, where she met her future husband, Jim. “I sold him glasses,” Jeanne’ remembers. The couple dated for two years and married in 1993.
Jeanne’ stayed busy with the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter, serving terms as Vice-President and then President. She was working n Connecticut during the week and returning to New Jersey to be with Jim on the weekends. In 1998, Jeanne’ noticed she was more clumsy, falling down and dropping things. As her symptoms worsened, her husband convinced her to return home, and seek medical help. In 1999, Jeanne’ was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
For a period of about seven years, “I was really bummed,” she says. Not only had she lost yet another career to medical issues, but she believed that need for a wheelchair meant she’d also lost her ability to compete athletically. Finally, Jeanne’ decided enough was enough, and through some research, she discovered the National Veteran Wheelchair Games. She entered the July 2006 Games held in Anchorage Alaska, where she got to play softball, albeit wheelchair style, for the first time in years.
“I was the only female on the team, had 3 RBI’s and got on base three times,” Jeanne’ boasts. She returned from the games as the proud winner of three gold medals and one bronze medal. Jeanne’ the athlete was back, and she was hooked.
Since those first games, Jeanne’ has tried downhill skiing, curling and even scuba diving. She’s able to golf again with husband Jim. “My ‘new normal’ is as an adaptive athlete,” Jeanne’ says. “I hope to try wheelchair tennis, and see what I can do.”
In 2008, she came in first in a Nordic (cross-country) skiing biathlon with a time of 10 minutes and 41 seconds.
“A fellow Nordic skier suggested I use hand-cycling as a training in the summer months,” says Jeanne’. “I went to the VA to see about getting a hand cycle to help in my rehabilitation as my MS was progressing.” Her request was approved and Jeanne’ joined a cycling club in Philadelphia, often training along the Schuylkill River.
Jeanne’ took to cycling, and signed up for the Ride2Recovery event held December 12-17, 2009 in Florida. According to their website, Ride2Recovery’s goal is to help make a difference in the lives of vets by assisting in their mental and physical rehabilitation programs. They run several charity rides throughout the year, raising money to assist veterans across the country. Jeanne’ completed 250 of the 350 mile race, many with the help of her fellow wounded warriors who pushed her. She was also cheered on by Vanessa Florence, Zeta, who came to support her.
“I surely will be back for another R2R in May in Virginia, but in the meantime, I am headed to New Hampshire for a ski clinic in January, and then to Snowmass for a Winter Sports clinic in March,” Jeanne’ says. “Just goes to show you I don’t have a disability; I have a different ability!”
For more information on Ride2Recovery, visit their website at www.ride2recovery.com
